Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2026

Abstract

Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is the most common congenital heart defect, but it can remain undiagnosed until adulthood. This case study describes a 36-year-old male who presented for a transthoracic echocardiogram to evaluate systolic murmur without any symptoms. The patient vaguely recalled a diagnosis of BAV in his childhood but had not received any cardiac evaluation for over two decades and no documentation of the diagnosis was available in his medical record. Echocardiography confirmed a BAV with cusp fusion and revealed critical aortic stenosis, moderate aortic regurgitation, mild dilation of the ascending aorta, and severe left ventricular hypertrophy. The severity of these findings in an otherwise asymptomatic patient underscores the silent progression of BAV when left unmonitored. This case is particularly significant as it illustrates the consequences of inadequate follow-up and poor medical record continuity. It reinforces the critical role of echocardiography in detecting structural valve abnormalities and the importance of accurate documentation and routine surveillance to enable earlier detection and management of complications.

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